Pavel Durov, the Franco-Russian billionaire and founder of the widely-used Telegram messaging app, has found himself in a precarious situation after being arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris. Reports from French media, citing unnamed sources, indicate that Durov is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday following his detention on Saturday evening. The 39-year-old entrepreneur, who co-founded Telegram with his brother in 2013, has seen the app rise to prominence, particularly in Russia, Ukraine, and various former Soviet republics.
According to sources, Durov was apprehended upon arriving from Baku, Azerbaijan. The French office responsible for preventing violence against minors, known as OFMIN, had issued an arrest warrant for him as part of a preliminary investigation into serious allegations, including fraud, drug trafficking, cyberbullying, organized crime, and the promotion of terrorism. Investigators have expressed frustration over Durov’s alleged inaction regarding the criminal exploitation of his platform, with one remarking, “Enough of Telegram’s impunity.” This sentiment raises questions about Durov’s decision to travel to Paris while being aware of the legal challenges he faced.
France ‘refusing to cooperate’, says Russia
The Russian embassy in Paris has voiced its concerns regarding Durov’s arrest, accusing French authorities of a lack of cooperation. In a statement reported by Ria Novosti, the embassy expressed its immediate request for clarification on the reasons behind the detention and emphasized the need for Durov’s rights to be upheld, including access to consular support. As of now, the embassy claims that the French side has not engaged in dialogue on this matter.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former president of Russia, weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Durov had miscalculated his circumstances by leaving Russia and assuming he could evade cooperation with security services abroad. Medvedev recounted a past conversation with Durov, warning him that avoiding law enforcement could lead to complications in any country. He characterized Durov’s aspirations of living as a “brilliant man of the world” without a homeland as a significant misjudgment, asserting that Durov is now perceived as “unpredictable and dangerous” due to his Russian identity.
Platform of ‘privacy’
Telegram, headquartered in Dubai, has carved out a niche as a privacy-centric alternative to American-owned messaging platforms, which have faced criticism for their handling of user data. Durov has consistently maintained that Telegram will never disclose user information, a commitment that resonates with many users seeking privacy in their communications.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson earlier this year, Durov shared that the inspiration for creating an encrypted messaging app stemmed from pressures he faced from the Russian government while working on VK, a social network he founded before leaving Russia in 2014. After attempts to settle in various global cities, he ultimately chose Dubai for its favorable business environment and perceived neutrality. Durov noted that users are drawn to Telegram for its independence, privacy, and the freedom it offers, boasting over 900 million active users.
By establishing itself in the United Arab Emirates, Telegram has managed to navigate around stringent moderation laws, particularly as Western nations intensify efforts to regulate online content. However, the platform’s capacity to host groups of up to 200,000 members has led to accusations of facilitating the rapid spread of misinformation and harmful content, including neo-Nazi, pedophilic, conspiratorial, and terrorist material. In contrast, WhatsApp has implemented global limits on message forwarding to mitigate similar issues, particularly highlighted during incidents in India.
